RISING DANISH CONCERN ABOT GAZA VIOLENCE

UNCLAS COPENHAEN 000013

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MOPS IS DA
SUBJECT: RISING DANISH CONCERN ABOT GAZA VIOLENCE


1. (SBU) The Danish government nd leading politicians
continue to balance their assessment of the conflict in Gaza
between assigning clear blame to Hamas and signaling growing

concerns about the civilian casualties inflicted by the
Israeli retaliation. Following a January 6 meeting with the
parliamentary foreign policy committee, Danish FM Moller
declared that there is widespread consensus among Danish
parties to condemn Hamas for provoking hostilities but at the
same time condemn the "exaggerated" use of military force by
Israel. There are differences in focus among the parties, of
course, with some on the center-right (especially the hawkish
Danish Peoples' Party) taking a tougher line in support of
Israel and others in the center-left opposition much more
critical, but the recent expansion of Israel's offensive has
begun to shift opinion here across the board in favor of an
immediate cease-fire.


2. (SBU) FM Moller also announced that he will call in the
Israeli ambassador to register Denmark's displeasure at the
destruction by Israeli forces in Gaza of three mobile clinics
provided by a Danish humanitarian organization. A number of
Danish aid organizations have urged the government to press
within the EU for a prompt Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.


3. (SBU) Although Danish police have not been able to tie
the incident conclusively to the situation in Gaza, a
December 31 attack on two Israeli merchants in a Danish
shopping mall has heightened fears of violent actions and
protests by Denmark's sizable and sometimes volatile
Palestinian population. Public demonstrations before the
Israeli and Egyptian embassies have so far been largely
peaceful, but Danish authorities remain on alert.
CAIN